DIPLOMATIC AND OFFICIAL PASSPORT SECTION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Diplomatic e-Passport is issued to high ranking government officials whose ranks vary from the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Vice Presidents, Senators, Congressmen / Congresswomen and members of the Foreign Service whose post of assignment require use of such passport to carry-out duties.
An Official e-Passport is issued to any permanent government official and employee who will be on official travel abroad.
Under Section 7 of Republic Act No. 8239, also known as “Philippine Passport Act of 1996”, the following are entitled to:
Diplomatic e-Passport
- The President and former Presidents of the Republic of the Philippines;
- The Vice President and former Vice Presidents of the Republic of the Philippines;
- The Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
- The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;
- The Cabinet Secretaries of the National Government and the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries of the Department of Foreign Affairs;
- Ambassadors, Chiefs of Missions, Counsellors, Foreign Service Officers in the Home Office and abroad, DFA attachés and service attachés of other agencies assigned to the Philippine Embassy / Consulate;
- Members of the Congress when on official mission abroad or as delegates to international conference;
- The Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas;
- Delegates to international or regional conferences as authorized by the President to Undertake diplomatic missions for the Philippine Government and accorded full power;
- Spouses and unmarried minor children of abovementioned officials when accompanying or following to join them in an official mission abroad
Official e-Passport
- Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries of the government departments;
- Associate Justices and other members of the Judiciary;
- Permanent government officials and employees attending conference, seminar, training and/or study tour either at government expense or under the sponsorship of a foreign government or international and/or regional organization;
- Staff officers and permanent employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs assigned to the Philippine diplomatic and consular posts abroad and their spouses and dependents;
- Representatives of other Departments or Philippine government agencies, who are holding permanent positions, posted abroad, including their spouses and unmarried minor children;
- Persons in domestic service and household members of officials assigned to Foreign Service establishments.
- Passport Application Form (DFA-PCA-DOPS-02);
- Original Birth Certificate in security paper (SECPA) issued by the Philippine Statistics Office (PSA)- for first time applicant and if has not yet been issued a diplomatic/official/regular passport;
- Previous Diplomatic/Official/Regular e-Passport and a Photocopy (if issued before);
- Original PSA issued Marriage Certificate (for married woman, and if her married name has not yet been reflected in the previously issued passport);
- Original or Certified True Copy of Signed Travel Authority;
- Endorsement Letter to DFA (if the Travel Authority is not addressed to DFA);
- Certified True Copy of the Letter of Invitation from Sponsor;
- Original Copy of the latest Service Record;
- Original Copy of No Pending Administrative Case;
- Certified True Copy of Appointment Paper (for Presidential Appointee);
- Civil Service Appointment (for Coterminous Appointees)
- Certified True Copy of Oath of Office (for Elected Officials);
- Photocopy of Applicant’s Office ID/authorized Representative’s office ID; and
- Training Contract (Original Copy) if the travel is for training, fellowship, scholarship and/or study grant.
- Revalidation / Extension / Amendment Form (Form no. DFA-OCA-DOPS-04);
- Original and Photocopy of Diplomatic / Official e-Passport;
- Original or Certified True Copy of signed Travel Authority;
- Endorsement Letter to DFA (if the Travel Authority is not addressed to DFA);
- Certified True Copy of the Letter of Invitation from Sponsor;
- Original or Certified True Copy of the latest Service Record;
- Original or Certified True Copy of No Pending Administrative Case(CNPAC);
- Certified True Copy of Appointment Paper (for Presidential Appointees);
- Certified True Copy of Oath of Office (for Elected Officials);
- Photocopy of Applicant’s Office ID/Authorized Representative’s Office ID;
- Original Training Contract if the travel is for training, fellowship, scholarship and/or study grant;
- HRMO-TAS/HCSAD Endorsement (For dependents and private staff of DFA Personnel and Partner Agencies)
- Request for Note Verbale Form (DFA-PCA-DOPS-07);
- Signed Travel Authority;
- Photocopy of the Diplomatic or Official e-Passport.
DFA OFFICERS AND PERSONNEL |
||
Rank |
Issuance |
Revalidation |
Officers |
Five (5) years validity |
Up to given validity |
Staff |
One (1) year validity |
One year validity |
Assignment of DFA Officers and Personnel |
Five (5) years validity |
Up to given validity |
Minor Children |
Duration of Principal’s Appointment |
Up to given validity |
Dependents |
Three (3) years validity / Duration of Principal’s Appointment |
Up to given validity |
Private Staff |
Three (3) years validity / Duration of Principal’s Appointment |
Up to given validity |
Local Hire |
One (1) year validity |
Up to given validity |
THE EXECUTIVE AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES |
||
Rank |
Issuance |
Revalidation |
President, Spouse and Minor Children |
Five (5) years validity |
Up to given validity |
Cabinet Secretaries, their Spouses and Minor Children |
Five (5) years validity / Tenure of Appointing Authority |
Up to given validity |
Permanent Officers and Staff of Government Agencies |
Five (5) years validity |
UP TO GIVEN VALIDITY |
Congressmen/Congresswomen, Senators, their Spouses and Minor Children |
Tenure / Term of Office |
Up to given validity |
Scholars |
Five (5) years validity |
UP TO GIVEN VALIDITY |
ASSIGNED PERSONNEL FROM DIFFERENT ATTACHED AGENCIES |
||
Rank |
Issuance |
Revalidation |
Service Attachés, Administrative Assistants and Staff |
*Three (3) years validity |
Up to given validity |
Minor Children of Attachés, Administrative Assistants and Staff |
*Three (3) years / Duration of Principal’s Appointment |
Up to given validity |
Dependents of Attachés, Administrative Assistants and Staff |
*Three (3) years / Duration of Principal’s Appointment |
Up to given validity |
Private Staff of Attachés, Administrative Assistants and Staff |
*Three (3) years / Duration of Principal’s Appointment |
Up to given validity |
DOLE (Welfare Attachés, Labor Attachés etc.) |
Five (5) years |
Up to given validity |
SSS (MATS) / SSS Representative |
*Three (3) years |
Up to given validity |
*Five (5) years validity for UAE Posting, as required by the UAE Embassy
Diplomatic and Official e-Passports shall be submitted to DOPS for revalidation before each departure of the bearer from the Philippines.
Issuance / Renewal of Diplomatic and Official e-Passports |
|
Express Five (5) working days |
Php 1,200.00 |
Regular Seven (7) working days |
Php 950.00 |
Revalidation / Amendment of Diplomatic and Official e-Passport |
|
Two (2) working days |
Gratis (Non-fee) |
Request for Note Verbale / Letter Visa Endorsement of Diplomatic and Official e-Passport |
|
Two (2) working days |
Gratis (Non-fee) |
Pursuant to Department of Foreign Affairs’ Memorandum Circular No. 22-96 dated 25 July 1996, applications for diplomatic or official passports shall be submitted to the Office of Consular Affairs at least two (2) weeks before the departure date but not earlier than one (1) month.
The application for Issuance, renewal, revalidation or amendment of Diplomatic and Official e-Passports may be filed at the Diplomatic and Official Passports Section (DOPS) of the Office of Consular Affairs located at the 3rd Floor, DFA Consular Office, ASEANA Business Park, Bradco Avenue corner Macapagal Boulevard, Parañaque City.
Yes. Applicants may authorize a representative to claim their new / revalidated diplomatic / official e-passport, provided that the authorized person presents the claim stub, official receipt, original authorization letter and a photocopy of his / her valid identification card upon claiming.
No. All applications pertaining diplomatic / official e-Passports may only be filed at the Diplomatic and Official Passports Section ) of the Office of Consular Affairs located at the 3rd Floor, DFA Consular Office, ASEANA Business Park, Bradco Avenue corner Macapagal Boulevard, Parañaque City.
No. DOPS cannot process your application even if you gave a signed travel authority as other requirements are necessary for the processing of your diplomatic / official e-passport.
Yes. DOPS accepts applications without the signed travel authority as long as the applicant can present an initialed copy of the travel authority.
A diplomatic or official e-Passport may be renewed if the passport’s validity is less than six (6) months on the date of the expected official travel.
No, so make sure to fill-out your application form completely.
No. Application for issuance, renewal of diplomatic / official e-passports should be done personally at DOPS.
Yes. You may file for the revalidation, request for note verbal or letter visa endorsement for the diplomatic / official e-passport of others by presenting an original authorization letter signed by the passport holder and a photocopy of your identification card.